Why Michigan strength coach Ben Herbert's million dollar deal is well deserved

The Michigan athletic department has opened the checkbook for the football coaches, as it should after back-to-back Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances. That includes a huge raise for strength coach Ben Herbert, who is in rare air with a deal that will reportedly push him over $1 million annually.

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Ben Herbert recently signed a new 5-year deal that puts him in rare company, making him college football's newest $1M strength coach. @MLive https://t.co/WN821w9ZpX

— Aaron McMann (@AaronMcMann) April 3, 2023

It might seem crazy to some in the “he’s just a strength coach” crowd. It’s anything but, though … and to those who understand the inner workings of a football program, it makes perfect sense.

The strength coach is the guy who, in many cases, gets as close to the players as anyone. He’s allowed more time with them by the NCAA, gets to know their personalities — what they can endure, which buttons to push — and in many cases is as much a mentor as their position coaches and the head coach.

Those in the weight room on a consistent basis would say he’s helped create the culture you’re seeing now, in addition to the sculpted bodies that were noticeable (and then some) during the Michigan spring game. There were even some ‘wow’ moments at press conferences when guys like Braiden McGregor, Kris Jenkins, Amorion Walker, etc. met with reporters.

“To me, Ben Herbert is the X-factor in our entire football program,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said after Michigan dominated Ohio State for the second straight year. “The level of conditioning, the level of strength, the lesson of mental toughness … that’s been the center of it. I would have to give equal amount of credit and gratitude to Ben Herbert. X-factor in this program.”

The players, too, gave him his props.

“Coach Herb is the reason I came here,” former defensive tackle Mazi Smith, now preparing for the NFL Draft, said. “Before they got Coach Herb and the new strength staff and weight room, Michigan, to be honest with you, was lower on my list. But when they hired him, I met him and figured out what he was about. I just knew that this was the place I had to come.

“When you talk about that extra toughness and mental edge — he provides all of that, but he also provides a physical edge. It’s a lot of secrets that he does that I have to keep.”

The biggest factor, though, is the culture he creates. Some guys are out in front and self-promoters — that’s not Ben Herbert. We almost had to corner him in France to talk to him during U-M’s trip there several years ago … not that he was avoiding, but he was more about letting his players get the glory. He was gracious with his time and forthright, but not at all arrogant.

It’s reminiscent of Mike Gittleson, who was a legend with his players. Though some criticized his methods (“antiquated HIT training,” etc. — different than Herbert’s, to be clear), the teams he trained were almost always mentally tough.

Fans were enamored with Rich Rodriguez’ guy, Mike Barwis, and Barwis was more than happy to share his methods. His players were well-prepared given what Rodriguez was asking him to do (we remember offensive linemen Stephen Schilling bragging about having abs for the first time in his life).

But as our analyst, Doug Skene, and several others told us, Gittleson’s impact went far beyond the lifts and exercises. He helped shape them mentally. When they got fourth quarters in games with Ohio State, they were trained winners. Gittleson played a bigger factor in that than many either realized or wanted to admit.

His guys knew it, though. It’s one of the reasons several of his former linemen got together and bought him a truck after he left Michigan. Similarly, it’s Herbert’s “plan and philosophy” that have made the Michigan players so successful, former cornerback DJ Turner, tight end Luke Schoonmaker, and others shared from the NFL Draft Combine.

He gets the best out of them, and he’s worth every penny of the money he’s about to see. He’s the man behind the curtain, but his impact is visible in the results … including back-to-back Big Ten titles.